Place Your Pops

 Put your hands on the 1st of November 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Handy man

1-11-96:   Presenter:  Julian Clary

(6) REEF – Place Your Hands

Getting the show underway with their first of two top ten hits, and this was their biggest but it got no higher.

(9) LIVIN’ JOY – Follow The Rules

Here with their third and final top ten hit, but it got no higher.

(12) ALISHA’S ATTIC – Alisha Rules The World

Performing the title track from their number 14 album, but it got no higher.

(10) MADONNA – You Must Love Me  (video)  (and charts) 

At its peak.

(11) SPACE – Neighbourhood

Here in the studio but the song could get no higher.

(FLASHBACK) WHAM! – Freedom  (clip of TOTP 11-10-84)

Number one in 1984.

(4) TONI BRAXTON – Un-Break My Heart  (via satellite)

Will go up another two places.

(NEW) JIMMY NAIL – Country Boy

Performing what will become his seventh and final top 40 hit when it peaks at number 25.

(2) EAST 17 feat. GABRIELLE – If You Ever

Here tonight but the song could get no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Say You’ll Be There

Second and final week at number one.

(TOTP2) QUANTUM JUMP – The Lone Ranger  (clip of TOTP 28-6-79)  (and credits)

Number 5 in 1979.

Say You'll Be Top of the Pops

 I'm giving you the 25th of October 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Sleeping beauty

25-10-96:   Presenters:  Steve Lamacq & Jo Whiley

(8) SUEDE – Beautiful Ones

Getting tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.

(3) FAITHLESS – Insomnia

Performing their first of seven top ten hits, but it got no higher.

(6) BABYBIRD – You’re Gorgeous

Had already peaked at number 3.

(13) FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON – My Kingdom  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(NEW) GINA G – I Belong To You

Performing what will become her second of three top ten hits when it peaks at number 6.

(FLASHBACK) ENYA – Orinoco Flow  (clip of TOTP 20-10-88)

Number one in 1988.

(17) E-MOTION – The Naughty North And The Sexy South

Had already made it to number 20 earlier thus year, this second time around number 17 was the new peak.

(NEW) MADONNA – You Must Love Me  (video)

Will peak at number 10.

(4) CAST – Flying

A second studio performance but the song could get no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Say You’ll Be There

First of two weeks at number one.

(TOTP2) U2 – New Year’s Day  (clip of TOTP 20-1-83)  (and credits)

Number 10 in 1983.

Words of the Pops

 Smile an everlasting smile, a smile can bring the 18th of October 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Say 'cheez'

18-10-96:   Presenter:  Nigel Kennedy

(18) THE BOO RADLEYS – C’Mon Kids

Getting the show underway but the song got no higher.

(24) MONTELL JORDAN – I Like

Here tonight but the song go no higher.

(8) MARK MORRISON – Trippin’

In the studio but the song was at its peak.

(3) CELINE DION – It’s All Coming Back To Me Now  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(12) BALLY SAGOO – Dil Cheez (My Heart)

With the first of two top 40 hits, this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(FLASHBACK) JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – Summer Nights  (video)

Number one in 1978. And sadly cut out from tonight's show, presumably due to the cost of showing it.

But a big thank you to Anonymous for making the uncut show available here at WeTransfer.

(9) BLACKSTREET – No Diggity

Making their studio debut with their first of five top ten hits, but it got no higher.

(NEW) THE LIGHTNING SEEDS – What If

Performing what will soon become a number 14 hit.

(15) SNEAKER PIMPS – 6 Underground

Got no higher this year, but in '97 the remix will become their only top ten hit when it peaks at number 9.

(1) BOYZONE – Words

Here with the first and only week at number one for this Bee Gees cover.

(TOTP2) THE ROLLING STONES – Sympathy For The Devil  (video)  (and credits)

Track from their 1968 album, Beggars Banquet.

Gorgeous of the Pops

 I'd do anything for you because you're the 11th of October 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hello, Gorgeous

11-10-96:   Presenter:  Bear Van Beers

(9) MANIC STREET PREACHERS – Kevin Carter

Getting tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.

(11) HEALY & AMOS – Stamp!

Their first of two top 40 hits, this one was the biggest but it go no higher.

(6) THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH – Rotterdam

Performing the first single from their number one album, Blue is the Colour, and it went up one more place.

(12) DAMAGE – Love II Love  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(NEW) CAST – Flying

Here with what will become their biggest hit when it peaks at number 4.

(FLASHBACK) MADONNA – True Blue  (video)

Number one in 1986.

(3) BABYBIRD – You’re Gorgeous

Making his studio debut with his only top ten hit, and it got no higher.

(5) DONNA LEWIS – I Love You Always Forever

Back in the studio again but the song had now reached its peak.

(NEW) SPICE GIRLS – Say You’ll Be There

Performing what will become their second of nine number one hits.

(1) THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS – Setting Sun  (video)

Featuring vocals by Noel Gallagher, this was the first of two number ones for the band.

(TOTP2) T-REX – 20th Century Boy  (video)  (and credits)

Number 3 in 1973.

Top of the Pops at Tiffany's

As I recall, I think we both kinda liked the 4th of October 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

The hit girl

4-10-96:   Presenter:  Tony Wright

(17) SLEEPER – Statuesque

Getting the show underway with the fourth and final single from their top 5 album, The It Girl, but it got no higher.

(20) EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL – Single

In the studio tonight but the song got no higher.

(15) GABRIELLE – If You Really Cared

Also with us tonight but the song was at its peak.

(7) L.L. COOL J – Loungin’  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(FLASHBACK) ROD STEWART – Maggie May  (clip of TOTP 27-12-71)

Number one in 1971.

(6) CELINE DION – It’s All Coming Back To Me Now  (video)

Peaked at number 3.

(22) LONGPIGS – Lost Myself

In the studio but the song got no higher.

(NEW) BOYZONE – Words

Performing what will become their first of six number one hits.

(1) DEEP BLUE SOMETHING – Breakfast At Tiffany’s

With their first and only week at number one.

(TOTP2) DAVE CLARK FIVE – Bits And Pieces  (clip of TOTP 26-2-64)  (and credits)

Number 2 in 1964.

Top of the Pops is All I Want

 That's all I want, the 27th of September 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Harry on up the charts

27-9-96:   Presenter:  Harry Hill

(14) SKUNK ANANSIE – All I Want

Getting tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.

(9) DONNA LEWIS – I Love You Always Forever

Still climbing the charts and on her way to a peak of number 5.

(7) THE BLUETONES – Marblehead Johnson

A second studio performance but the song got no higher.

(4) BBE – Seven Days And One Week  (video)  (and charts)

Performing their first of two top ten hits and it went up one more place.

(17) METALLICA – Hero Of The Day  (via satellite)

At its peak.

(FLASHBACK) THE COMMUNARDS – Don’t Leave Me This Way  (clip of TOTP 18-9-86)

Number one in 1986.

(3) DINA CARROLL – Escaping

Here with her fourth and final top ten hit now at its peak.

(6) OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – The Circle

In the studio tonight but the song got no higher.

(NEW) THE POWER STATION – She Can Rock It

Performing their first song in eleven years, but it would only peak at number 63.

(1) FUGEES – Ready Or Not  (via satellite)

Second and final week at number one.

(TOTP2) THE SWEET – Fox On The Run  (clip of TOTP 10-4-75)  (and credits)

Number two in 1975.

Top of the Pops Ready or Not

 Ready or not, here I come, gonna find the 20th of September 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Tick-tock of the pops

20-9-96:   Presenter:  Tony Mortimer  

(8) BELINDA CARLISLE – Always Breaking My Heart

Getting the 1700th edition underway with her seventh and final top ten hit, but it got no higher.

(3) DEEP BLUE SOMETHING – Breakfast At Tiffany’s

A second studio performance and the song will get to number one in two weeks time.

(14) LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY – Goodbye Heartbreak

In the studio but the song got no higher.

(9) SHERYL CROW – If It Makes You Happy  (via satellite)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(13) CLOCK – Oh What A Night

A second time in the studio but the song could get no higher.

(FLASHBACK) ADAM & THE ANTS – Prince Charming  (video)

Number one in 1981.

(NEW) THE BLUETONES – Marblehead Johnson

Performing what will become their third of four top ten hits when it peaks at number 7.

(NEW) PHIL COLLINS – Dance Into The Light

In the studio tonight with what will become his thirteenth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 9.

(1) FUGEES – Ready Or Not  (video)

First of two weeks at number one.

(TOTP2) SLADE – Coz I Luv You  (clip of TOTP 27-12-71)  (and credits)

First of the band's six number one hits.